The Rebirth of a Concubine's Daughter and Her Heartless Lover!

Secret Game

Shen Yiyao sat quietly in her study, her thoughts racing. The appearance of Shen Qianyun and Shen Cheng had undoubtedly plunged her into a deeper fog. Shen Cheng's deep thoughts and Shen Qianyun's coldness made her realize that she was in a chess game with no way out. Every move had to be made with extreme caution, but without losing the initiative.

She gently stood up, walked to the window, and looked up at the moonlight outside the courtyard. The moonlight was like water, cold and bright, yet ruthlessly exposing all secrets. This reminded her of what Wei Ma had said: "The depth of the Shen family's power struggles is far deeper than you imagine."

However, Shen Yiyao knew that it was precisely because of the complexity of the situation that it was more suitable for her to intervene. As long as she could properly grasp the ever-changing situation in the Shen Mansion, she would be able to take advantage of it and even create a brand new path for herself.

——If she could grasp this information, every move of Shen Qianyun and Shen Yaoyue would no longer be mysterious and terrifying, but a predictable chess piece.

Just as she was thinking, there was a light knock on the door. She came to her senses, turned around and shouted to the door, "Come in."

The door opened gently, and it was Su Ze standing at the door. He said in a low voice with a hint of respect: "Miss, there is a visitor outside. Please meet him."

Shen Yiyao raised her eyebrows, and a sense of vigilance suddenly rose in her heart. Who would come to her at this time? She pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Bring him in."

Su Ze withdrew as instructed, and soon after, a man in a dark blue robe walked in, trailing behind him. He had a handsome appearance, an extraordinary demeanor, and a steady gait, giving off an innate sense of composure and calm. When his gaze fell on Shen Yiyao, it was deep and calm, as if it could penetrate any hypocritical disguise.

"Miss Shen, I'm Nangong Xiu of the Nangong family." The man's voice was deep and clear, with a hint of natural nobility. "My father asked me to come and discuss something with Miss Shen."

Nangong Xiu, the sole heir to the Nangong family, had already wielded considerable influence in both politics and business at a young age. Although Shen Yiyao had never met him, she knew from the intelligence she had accumulated within the Shen residence that the Nangong family had always been one of the most crucial forces outside the Shen residence.

"So it's Young Master Nangong. I've heard of your great name for a long time." Shen Yiyao smiled gently, her tone respectful yet calm. "I wonder what brings you here, Young Master Nangong?"

A complex glint flashed in Nangong Xiu's eyes. He took a deep breath, as if weighing whether to reveal more details. After a moment, he spoke, "Shen Qianyun is currently caught in a dilemma. His enemies come not only from within the Shen Mansion, but also from the aristocratic forces outside. My father has had several private encounters with him and has proposed several plans for the future development of the Shen Mansion." He paused, "And I am willing to play a bridging role, helping Shen Qianyun consolidate the Shen Mansion's external relationships."

Shen Yiyao frowned slightly. "External relations? You mean the alliance between the Nangong family and Shen Qianyun?"

Nangong Xiu nodded and said in a low voice: "Not only the alliance, I also hope that Miss Shen can play some role between Shen Qianyun and Shen Yaoyue."

Shen Yiyao's heart moved, and her intuition told her that this was not a simple matter. The "role" mentioned by Nangong Xiu was obviously not just to help mediate the relationship between Shen Qianyun and Shen Yaoyue, but involved a more complex exchange of interests.

She took a deep breath and decided to further explore Nangong Xiu's background: "Mr. Nangong, does Shen Qianyun know about this cooperation?"

Nangong Xiu's lips curled up slightly in a smile, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes: "Shen Qianyun certainly knows that we have been in contact. The negotiations between my father and Shen Qianyun have entered a critical stage. And I came here to obtain more information from Miss Shen. After all, in the Shen Mansion, Shen Yaoyue is a presence that cannot be ignored."

Shen Yiyao's heart trembled slightly. Shen Yaoyue was brought up again. She knew that Nangong Xiu's words were not entirely unreasonable. Shen Yaoyue was not only Shen Qianyun's fiancée, but her background and status clearly brought additional external pressure to the Shen family.

"Shen Yaoyue is indeed a key figure." Shen Yiyao nodded gently, "But if I were to intervene in this matter, I'm afraid it wouldn't be easy. The situation in the Shen Mansion is complicated, and any small mistake could cause the entire situation to get out of control."

Nangong Xiu slowly stood up, his eyes gentle but full of confidence: "I understand Miss Shen's concerns. But please believe that in this chess game, you and I are both indispensable pieces. Shen Qianyun has more and more enemies, and the struggle within the Shen Mansion is becoming more and more intense. What I can provide you is not only stable external support, but also more resources that can be utilized."

She lowered her head, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "If I agree to cooperate with you, what can I gain?"

Nangong Xiu didn't answer immediately, but instead watched her quietly, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "I can solidify your position within the Shen family. By working with me, you'll not only gain more support, but also leverage my father's resources to pave a more stable path for yourself. The conflict between Shen Qianyun and Shen Yaoyue will eventually erupt, and you'll be the biggest winner in this upheaval."

Shen Yiyao chuckled, stood up, and said with a cold look: "If this is all you can offer, then I think I should consider the conditions for cooperation."

Nangong Xiu smiled slightly, with a barely perceptible coldness in his eyes: "Miss Shen, in this case, I believe our cooperation will be very pleasant."

His words were simple, yet each one held a powerful allure and profound meaning. Shen Yiyao pondered inwardly that Nangong Xiu's visit wasn't simply a simple proposal for cooperation, but rather had a deeper purpose.

And she had already seen through the unspoken rules of this game.

It remains to be seen who will ultimately emerge victorious in this chess game, but she knows that the moves have already begun.

Shen Yiyao took a deep breath and slowly walked to the window, gazing at the Shen Mansion in the distance. In the night, the ancient mansion was like a sleeping monster, faintly emitting a dangerous aura. In her heart, there was no more hesitation, only firm determination.

No matter how complicated this game was, someone would eventually emerge as the winner. And she would definitely be that winner.

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Chapter 7: The Lurking Storm